This was the start of an extraordinary week on the shores on beautiful Lake Como, Italy.

I had picked ‘Hotel La Darsena’ in Tremezzo off the internet as it was the only hotel on Lake Como situated over the lake with a balcony so we could admire an uninterrupted view.

Hotel La Darsena is a 9 room boutique hotel that is a family owned and run business.

Tiziano and Ezio run this business along with their wives Mirina and Mariangela with a friendly, personal touch and a strong sense of Italian pride.

Our check in was swift and efficient and our rooms were fantastic!

On the website I had seen two rooms at either end of the hotel that had two balconies {one at the front and another bigger verandah at the side} so I had specifically asked for them when booking.

Wow, was all I could say when I opened the door to our room.

Tastefully decorated in modern Italian style, this spacious room had a king size bed, lots of cupboard space, a large recently renewed modern bathroom with a spa, and of course the beautiful balconies to enjoy the view.

Breakfast was included in the tarrif. Each morning downstairs in the restaurant, a huge array of Italian delicacies were laid out in buffet style. We enjoyed Italian cheeses, fruit salad, prosciutto, ham, eggs, yoghurt and cereals with coffee that was to die for!!

The restaurant is also open for dinner each night. It stands alone as one of the best restaurants on Lake Como. The food was superb and each time we were given a table overlooking the lake. The view was only topped by the originality and the quality of the food. Marcello the chef and his team provided great service and all the meals were reasonably priced.

Hotel La Darsena is situated on the western side of Lake Como. There is a ferry stop and bus stop 2 minutes up the road, car parking is provided for guests and there is an array of other fantastic restaurants within 5 minutes walk from the hotel. I would highly recommend it as a great base to explore Lake Como and all it has to offer. Tremezzo has a real ‘village’ feel and is a lot quieter and less ‘touristy’ than Bellagio.

Maria and all the front desk staff are locals and know the area really well. Nothing was ever a problem, each morning we were quickly and efficiently provided with all the information we needed for our days adventure.

Each evening we would have drinks on our balcony and stare in wonder at the magic of the lake and the magnificent mountains that surround it.

The lake certainly weaved its magic on us…but the hospitality, warmth and standard of service at Hotel La Darsena made our stay there unforgettable.

If you’re planning a visit to Lake Como, and want a great place to stay, visit www.hotelladarsena.it for more information.